Mask-making - by request!

[mirrorshard]

Instructions, at littlebluefish's request, for mask-making before her New Year masquerade party.

There are essentially three ways to do this. One is to take a piece of card (not waterproofed) or material (felt works pretty well) and soak it in hot water before moulding it to your face. This would probably take several layers, and if you want eyeholes you'll have to cut them yourself by trial and error afterwards - it's hard to predict how much the material shrinks without experience. Oh, and there's the whole very-hot-material-on-your-face-for-ages thing.

The second is to go for the classic highwayman look, and use a silk or cotton handkerchief or small scarf. (If you use silk, you won't even need to cut eyeholes if you don't want to, you can see clearly through anything except very heavy silk. If you fold it smoothly and don't let it wrinkle, several layers are no worse.) Tie it or pin it behind your head, or let it drape for a veil effect if you prefer, and sew on braid, ricrac, ribbon, sequins, or similar fripperies for decorative value. If you feel especially artistic, you can get fabric paints - or specialist silk paints - in either bottle-and-brush or felt-tip-pen form factors.

If you're willing to settle for a very skimpy domino mask, you can cut a butterfly-shape out of cloth or thin card and put eyeholes in that, lacing ribbon through the sides to tie at the back. The problem with shaping it is in fitting it around the nose and getting the curve inwards for the eye sockets right, so a large eye-hole and a high "waist" lets you use a flat piece of card. This may take several tries to get right.

The third way, which I prefer myself, is to go to a costumier's or party supplies shop - you know, the ones with the balloons and novelty hats and offers to make lots of cheap t-shirts cheaply - and see about mask blanks there. Don't get fobbed off with the cheap tacky polythene ones - the good ones are more solid and usually have a matte texture. The kind I use come from Palmer Agencies, and even bought singly a decent one shouldn't set you back more than £5 at the most. After that, acrylic paint, UHU, cheap glass jewels, and the aforementioned fripperies are your friends. If you have lots of time to spare, it's worth varnishing them too (with acrylic varnish, but be careful of the fumes). You'll probably also want to use a length of ribbon to replace the cheap, thin, and easily broken elastic ties they come with.

I've probably forgotten something, but I shall remember later.

Comments

[jin-shei.livejournal.com]

Thankyou!!! There will be mask making!

[owlfish]

The fourth way is to buy a box of plaster bandages and vaseline, cut up the bandages into one inch strips, tie your hair back with a piece of cloth/bandana to tie it back around the edges, cover your face thorough in vaseline, get a piece of water, and have your assistant dips the strips in the water and lay the bandages on your face until they've built up a mask. (Don't forget the vaseline on your eyelids, especially if doing a full-face mask without eyes for decorative purposes.) The mask be done and set within 30 minutes. Wiggle your face around and slowly take off the mask - it should come off pretty easily, thanks to the vaseline. Let it finish drying, trim it, decorate to suit and punch holes for fabric or elastic head attachment.